What began as a documentary about city residents’ resilience during the pandemic has evolved into an organization that is demonstrating how resilient the city really is. Susan Sipprelle, a documentary filmmaker, spent three years shooting, editing, and developing “Newport: In This Together,” interviewing 108 Newporters and finding a city and its residents that are resilient, […]
Frank Prosnitz
Frank Prosnitz brings to WhatsUpNewp several years in journalism, including 10 as editor of the Providence (RI) Business News and 14 years as a reporter and bureau manager at the Providence (RI) Journal. Prosnitz began his journalism career as a sportswriter at the Asbury Park (NJ) Press, moving to The News Tribune (Woodbridge, NJ), before joining the Providence Journal. Prosnitz hosts the Morning Show on WLBQ radio (Westerly), 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and It’s Your Business, also on WBLQ, Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Prosnitz has twice won Best in Business Awards from the national Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW), twice was named Media Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration, won an investigative reporter’s award from the New England Press Association, and newswriting award from the Rhode Island Press Association.
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Celebrating 12 years of What’sUpNewp
WhatsUpNewp, today (March 12), celebrates its 12th anniversary. It would have been hard to imagine a decade ago that this idea would evolve into such an influential and vital part of so many lives – telling the stories from various entertainment stages to the streets of Newport, from local government meetings to the State House. […]
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New England: Wages increasing faster than inflation
For New England, wage increases are outpacing declining inflation, according to the latest New England Economic Conditions report, released last week by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Even so consumer confidence last month “was down slightly” from a year earlier, while nationally it increased by a small margin, the Boston Fed reports. The Federal […]
Posted inCity & Government
Will de-politicizing CRMC win legislative support?
Shoreline access has been a hot-button issue for many communities in Rhode Island as legislators seek to adopt rules to assure Rhode Islanders’ access to beaches, protect homeowners, and strengthen the organization that oversees the state’s shoreline. That was the motivation behind the legislation proposed by Senator Victoria Gu, D-Dist. 38 (Charlestown, Westerly, South Kingstown) […]
Posted inCity & Government
Budget, school construction, and attendance are all on the agenda for WUN’s conversation with Newport School Superintendent
While kids were on their winter break, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain remained focused on a myriad of issues, including strategic planning, the budget, and Rogers High School construction. She joins WUN for her monthly videocast on Wednesday, February 28, at 1:30 p.m. to discuss these and other issues in Newport schools. These are […]
Posted inCity & Government
On the ballot: Constitutional Convention
Voters in November, besides a host of contested political races and statewide and local referenda, will be voting to determine whether the state holds a constitutional convention. If approved, it will be the state’s third constitutional convention since 1973, and first since 1986. The 1986 constitutional convention was the last held by any state in […]
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Schools: Meeting the challenge with less money
Will the governor’s proposed budget ease challenges for schools across the state that are bracing for lost COVID funds and the Rhode Island Department of Education no longer forgiving districts for declining enrollment? Add to the lost federal and state funds, there are concerns in some communities that town or city councils will level fund […]
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Just My Opinion: Greatest threat to Democracy — Indifference
Indifference. As the future of our democracy is debated in this presidential election, as fears grow that some candidates are intent on unraveling our form of government, as the demonization of facts becomes the norm, perhaps democracy is most at risk from indifference. According to Ballotpedia and Ballotready, more than 60 percent of the 500,000 […]
Posted inCity & Government
Homeless shelter on URI campus opens Tuesday
After a couple of months navigating the state bureaucracy, officials now say a 12-family homeless shelter at the University of Rhode Island is expected to open on Tuesday. “It’s a go, we’re excited and overwhelmed,” says Russ Partridge, executive director of Westerly’s WARM Center, which will manage the facility. The shelter will finally open after […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislative Outlook: Senator Dawn Euer (D – Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown)
With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session now a few weeks in, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session, and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their […]
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A decade after receiving a $4.2 million state grant, Opera House project still needs millions to complete restoration
It has been nearly a decade since Rhode Island voters approved a creative and cultural economic bond that provided the Newport Performing Arts Center $4.2 million, and it has been more than 22 years since the opera house renovation was first envisioned. When NPAC received the state grant, it was welcomed by then Board Chairwoman […]
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Superintendent Jermain joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Jan. 31
With the school year half over, WhatsUpNewp will check in for our monthly videocast with Newport Schools’ Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain on Wednesday, January 31 at 1:30 pm, updating ongoing projects and looking at future funding, some of which is now in jeopardy. Statewide, COVID relief funds to school districts are drying up, and the […]
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Kids Count snapshot: Kids living in poverty, foster care, or minorities are at risk
This year’s annual Kids Count, while recognizing some gains in Rhode Island, shows instead a dire situation for children who are in foster care, are members of minority groups, or those that live in poverty. The report was issued today with a long list of recommendations, many seeking funding for new or existing programs. Most […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislative Outlook: Senator Linda Ujifusa, D-Dist. 11 (Portsmouth, Bristol)
With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session underway, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their perceptions of the state’s […]
Posted inNews
Governor holding final interviews for Director of the Department of Health
The state of Rhode Island may be close to hiring its first Director of the Department of Health in more than two years, ending a period of post-pandemic interim directors. Gov. Dan McKee, appearing on WBLQ’s It’s Your Business, hosted by Frank Prosnitz, says he’s down to “two or three final interviews” and working with […]
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Homeless Count across Rhode Island begins today
The annual count of homeless individuals and families in Rhode Island – and across the nation — began today, with the expectation that the numbers that have consistently been rising for five years will continue to rise. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts its Point-in-Time Count on what used to be one […]
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New England: Salaries barely outpace inflation
Salaries in New England outstripped inflation slightly over the last year, from November to November, according to the latest New England Economic Conditions report issued earlier this week by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The report also says New England unemployment is lower than most other regions, real estate costs continue to escalate, prices […]
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State of State outlines some spending; full budget to be presented Thursday
While Gov. Dan McKee said a few weeks ago that it was his intent to present a “more constrained” budget to the General Assembly, his State of the State address alluded to hundreds of millions of dollars in additional spending, including a number of bond issues. The governor was vague about many of his proposals, […]
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Just My Opinion: Remembering the inspiring words of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, it was a time not unlike today. Our country was divided by war, racial strife, and was less than four years removed from the assassination of a president. King, at 39, stood for hope and peace, […]
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Family shelter’s opening on hold
Some six weeks ago, Russ Partridge, executive director of the WARM Center, a homeless shelter in Washington County, was hopeful a new 12-family shelter would open near the University of Rhode Island campus in West Kingston. Six weeks later, Patridge is still waiting, still hopeful, and the building remains shuttered. That State Properties Committee meeting […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport cracks down on short-term rentals
As a state legislative commission explores ways to regulate the growing short-term rental industry, the city of Newport has launched its own effort to crackdown on what it considers illegal short-term rentals, primarily in residential areas. A compliance officer was hired, and the city is determined to rid itself of illegal short-term rental units that […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gov. McKee to propose a “more constrained” budget, while looking to build a state archive building
When Gov. Dan McKee presents his state budget proposal to the General Assembly in about three weeks, he promises it will be “more constrained” than in the past, not include any broad tax increase, while seeking bond approval to build a permanent state archive. Appearing on the Morning Show with Frank Prosnitz on WBLQ radio, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislative Outlook: Rep. Michelle McGaw
With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative beginning on Tuesday, January 2, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their perceptions […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislative Outlook – Rep. Terri-Denise Cortvriend
With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session just a few days away, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session, and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislative Outlook: Representative Lauren Carson
With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session just a few days away, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session, and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their […]